Dry Needling is a public health risk and puts patients in danger since Physical Therapists are not sufficiently trained and piercing the skin is not in their scope of practice in NJ. A weekend seminar does not train PTs sufficiently to handle blood borne illnesses and many other issues. Recently it has come to our attention that Physical Therapy Assistants have been trained with a weekend course to perform what is essentially acupuncture. PT assistants only have an Associates Degree and in no way have the education and skill to pierce the skin. This is a huge health risk.

I just signed the following petition addressed to: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs.

----------------Stop Physical Therapists from doing Dry Needling, which is Acupuncture.

I am writing as a concerned citizen because I have become aware that Physical Therapists are performing what they are deceptively calling “Dry Needling.” My understanding is that Dry Needling is the same as acupuncture.

In practicing dry needling, Physical Therapists are stimulating the same points that acupuncturists work on. Acupuncturists go to school for several years – after finishing a bachelor’s degree – to safely perform therapy. To the contrary, it is my understanding that Physical Therapists are performing dry needling with only a weekend course. Since Physical Therapists have no experience in procedures that pierce the skin, they lack the training that goes along with that, including proper care of used needles, prevention of blood borne pathogens, and health conditions that would warrant care with needling through the skin. A weekend course on these subjects is not long enough to properly teach someone how to do this. Physical Therapists, in New Jersey, are not even allowed to perform Electromyography (EMGs) so why should they be allowed to perform acupuncture?

I do not wish to have an invasive procedure performed on me when there are other, more capable professionals that are properly trained to do a better job. Dry Needling is Acupuncture, and Physical Therapists should be held to the same standards of training and education as acupuncturists.

What is most upsetting is that the State has yet to move in any way to protect consumers. Allowing a Physical Therapist with such limited training to perform what is actually a form of acupuncture constitutes a public health risk and places the patient in grave danger.----------------